SPIRITUAL DELIVERANCE IS PRICELESS

Zechariah chapter 9 opens with the historical account of Alexander the great marching from northern Syria down to Jerusalem destroying every city in his path. However, not even Alexander the great was a match for our mighty God! God himself encamped around the temple in Jerusalem and orchestrated Divine protection making sure no harm came to the temple and the worship He had ordained. What a glorious account of a natural deliverance for God's people.

Here's the revelation; in the middle of disclosing this mighty natural deliverance, beginning in verse nine, everything changes into an amazing Spiritual deliverance and we see one of the most powerful prophecies in scripture. "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy king cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass"(Zec. 9:9). This is the prophecy that had the "believing Jews" so excited on that Triumphant Entry as Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday!

"And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strewed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the Highest. And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying who is this? And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee"(Matt. 21:8-11) The Hebrew word Hosanna carries a 3-fold meaning. The "believing Jews" were crying "please deliver us"! It also means: "I beg you to save us". Some looked for a brilliant military leader on a white stallion, however, Jesus' true mission was to come as KING OF HEARTS conquering the heart of man by Spiritual Deliverance! The third meaning of Hosanna was an "endearing term of great adoration"! They cried to Him King Jesus, this was one of His better days where He was moved with compassion along with the entire city!

However, just a few days later a great change was coming. The majority of the Jews remained non-repentant! Earlier Jesus was in the temple and said: "my house shall be called the house of prayer". Here comes the change: "Behold your house is left unto you desolate"(Matt. 23:38) Notice, it's no longer my house nor "my Father's house", but now Jesus tells them it is their house they own it with all of it's desolation! "For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord"(Matt.23:39) Jesus had been visiting the temple frequently, now the time has come His presence has once for all departed the temple along with the "glory of God" He gives them a new way and the only way they now can see Him. On the day of His Triumphant Entry they cried Hosanna, Blessed is He who cometh in the Name of the Lord! This was spontaneous Praise bubbling out of their hearts in pureness. Old temple worship is gone, if we want Him and His glorious presence now, it comes from spontaneous, heart-felt Spirit and Truth reaching out to the Heart of The King of Kings, and Lord of Lords! AMEN!